Her eyes scanned the palace from where she sat taking in the early morning sunshine. Her eyes traveled from where the gardeners were working to the servants unloading the cart of goods and materials being carried inside from the carts outside.
She watched the way everyone went about their business, going about their separate ways. She saw them talking about something or other but couldn't quite place her finger on what it was they were saying.
Her old eyes fell on Xavier who was with some men attending to some commoners. His golden mane was tied neatly in a bun. He wore a blue tunic that was rolled up just below his elbows. He looked to be talking with one of the guards who had been standing there looking very nervous about whatever his question was.
She smiled softly at the sight of him but then her smile faltered when she remembered she couldn't make him king even if she wanted to. He was perfect in every way. Like his father had been. She stopped herself before her mind went into the horrid details of the past.
If only she hadn't come out at that time, if only had been able to sleep, if only she had not seen her beloved grandson do the unthinkable. Her eighty-two-year-old mind would have been at peace. Just waiting patiently for death to take her in its arms to where those she had lost in her life had gone to reside.
From the corner of her eyes, she noticed him come out of his quarters. His hair was the colour of the midnight sky. The opposite of Xavier. Now that she thought of it, from the beginning they had been opposites. Darius was always aloof and distant. Whereas Xavier was open and cheerful. But the two had surprised everyone when they became inseparable. She smiled remembering the times that they would go out of the way to make sure the others didn't get in trouble for their shenanigans. They would take the blame for the other and end up unpunished because no one could figure out who did it.
The queen mother sighed as she remembered their friendship waned. They were becoming young men and had to make decisions as each young male royal had to make. To become a knight or a witch hunter; Darius became a knight and Xavier, a witch hunter. The two roles are relatively equally important in the kingdom. They were both extraordinary at their work. Their successes soon started to be rated and compared. Which only caused the rivalry between the two and slowly but surely their friendship waned until it faded completely. People that knew Xavier adored him but those who knew his history loved him. He was not a royal but through his grandfather's loyalty, sacrifice and the fate he suffered for the kingdom, he was treated like one.
Darius on the other hand was her son's firstborn and heir to the throne. He didn't have a story like Xavier did nor the popularity so it was not all that unexpected when people started to say that Xavier deserved the throne more than Darius did even though that wasn't ideal.
She didn't belong to that school of thought until she saw a captured witch escape last night but before she could ring an alarm she saw something she never thought was possible. She was her only grandson to leave the cell too. He had been the one to let her escape! She couldn't expose him as a traitor and no matter how much it hurt to admit it she needed to find another heir. Xavier was the perfect candidate but it would not be possible. If only her son, Herod had a girl as his firstborn. She would marry Xavier and that would make him King but as the old saying goes if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
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Eva's POV
It was dark but I heard something let out a low growl. It was a big creature because I heard it stomping slowly towards me. It sent a vibration to where I stood. I was paralyzed with fear. Then it stopped but it still wasn't completely quiet. It was as though the creature was now stealthy. I held my breath hoping it wouldn't be able to hear me.
Out of nowhere, fire came in my direction which made me shriek but someone pushed me out of harm's way. It was dark but with the fire, I found out that the creature was a dragon. The man that pushed me was wielding a sword. The dragon directed its flame at my savior as he continued to fight. I didn't see his face but he had a strong physique and hair of molten gold. He danced gracefully with the fire and did not get grazed even once. He slashed at the monster that roared in pain until with one stab to the heart and the man had slain the beast. Now again, I was in total darkness and I couldn't see the man's face.
"Eva," The man called out in a deep sonorous voice.
"Yes?" My voice was miraculously stable. How did he know my name? I gulped.
"We shall meet again."
I was stunned by his words. What was going on?
"Forget me not, Princess."
Did he just call me a princess? Where was I?
I felt someone's hands on my shoulders as I jolted awake covered with perspiration to see Rosé's worried face.
"What's wrong?" She asked me. I couldn't answer as I was still in a daze. "You screamed!" She shook me by the shoulders.
"Answer me please," She begged, "I was worried."
"It was a dream," I mumbled. It felt so real. The dragon, its fire, the man and his words.
"What dream?" She asked, confused. "You mean a nightmare." She tried to correct me.
"No," I disagreed. "It was something in between."
"I don't understand."
I looked at her squarely and told her. "A man was there, he saved me and he told me we would meet again."